@@@@@It’s just a question of time There was a
@@@@@It’s just a question of time
There was a knock on the front door and Panov called out“It’s open because it’s easier! Come
in
The be-blazered, immaculately dressed assistant manager, MrPritchard, entered, preceded by a
room-service table that he was capable of pushing while standing completely erectHe smiled
broadly and announced his presence as well as his mission“Buckingham Pritchard at your service,
gentlemenI’ve brought a few delicacies from the sea for your collegial gathering before the
evening meal which I have personally attended to at the side of the chef who has been known to be
prone to errors without expert guidance which I was all too happy to provide
“Collegial?” said Alex“I got out of college damn near thirty-five years ago
“It obviously didn’t take where the nuances of English are concerned,” mumbled Morris PanovPritchard, aren’t you terribly hot in those clothes? I’d be sweating like a pig
“No nuances there, only an unproven cliché,” muttered Conklin
“I do not perspire, sir,” replied the assistant manager
“I’ll bet my pension you ‘perspired’ when MrJacques came back from Washington,”
offered Alex“Christ almighty, Johnny a ‘terrorist’!”
“The incident has been forgotten, sir,” said Pritchard stoicallySaint Jay and Sir Henry
understand that my brilliant uncle and I had only the children’s interests at heart
“Savvy, very savvy,” observed Conklin
“I’ll set up the canapés, gentlemen, and check the iceThe others should be here in a matter of
minutes
“That’s very kind of you,” said Panov
David Webb leaned against the balcony archway watching his wife as she read the last pages of
a children’s story to their sonCooper was dozing in a chair, her magnificent
black head, crowned by a fleece of silver and gray, kept nodding above her full chest as if she
expected at any moment to hear sounds from the infant Alison beyond the half-closed door that was
only feet from where she was sittingThe inflections of Marie’s quiet voice matched the words of
Robert Ludlum ?? THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM
441
the story, confirmed by Jamie’s wide eyes and parted